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How to Build a Girl (2019)
And so the reviewing cycle continues
Well here I am writing a review for a film about a teenage female who breaks out of her depressing home life with a surprising landing-pad-opportunity as Rock reviewer for NME, so the protagonist of the film was an excellent Reviewer. She went to see bands around the country to do a write-up on them. As I'm a similar age to Caitlin Moran, the journalist whom its about, the temporal setting made sense ( I knew the names, anyway!). I had no idea what a good film-watching experience was guaranteed when I chose this from my Prime Watchlist and it has definitely given me something to think about. It's strange how some people make it and some people don't, and it's not necessarily the ones you'd expect. There is the question of whether the protagonist is actually mentally ill or whether it could be that she's a "sensitive" as there is a lot of evidence of her sensitivity in the film. All of "Life" is encompassed in this movie for All ages. I loved the special effects of her conversations with pictures on her bedroom wall. Also the scrapbooking look in the end title graphics, which evoked warm, feel-good memories. It probably establishes Caitlin Moran as a true Leader of our time, and the book it's based on is the first of a trilogy, the final one of which is not even out yet, excitingly enough!
The Mummy (2017)
Just don't bother
I doubt whether I can say anything new about how bad this film is, but there's no harm in trying! The effect of double pupils in all the evil ones eyes was unsightly and immediately made it impossible to look at them, when their double pupils came on. Why did Dr Jekyll act as if he was possessed by evil without it tying in to the main evil at work, like he was independently evil, and then the inconsistency was made worse as the lead character flashes back to him saying kindly, inspirational things at the end even though he's already experienced him trying to kill him?
It was offensive as it didn't mind promoting the idea that a current triviality could be enough to counter the force of Ancient Egypt. It abuses Ancient Egypt to the extent that it's probably brought about a unique curse on itself. How can anyone take Ancient Egyptian religion in vain? I didn't feel so shocked at this abusiveness in the earlier Mummy films. I think they've lost respect for the subject and gone ever more along the commercial vein, to mine it like dead mummies from tombs. They're plundering a highly advanced, potent religion in the same way as the 19th Century explorers did. What I saw when the lead character was making himself into an immortal god of death with a dagger in order to have the power of Life and Death was seriously cheap. Ancient Egyptian religion isn't anything according to these film makers - you could dance with a mummy in a disco - you could do anything you like with that stuff because it's not real. Whoever thinks that is unfathomably and ridiculously ignorant, making money out of people's positive and genuine curiosity. It closes down their understanding and curiosity though, and just adds to the fog and malaise of our times. It's a film that shouldn't be allowed to be made and but I've still given it 2 stars as I like Tom Cruise and some of the witty banter like when he tells the princess person that they're never going to be together, and it's her not him! There's some entertainment to be had !
Rambo: Last Blood (2019)
The Best Thing Ever
Finally, I really get it. It is pure inspiration, salvation and resolution - it truly has a magical psychological property (the whole series of films) to do with trusting that humans can do the right thing. There will be a saviour. It's fantastic and I don't want to analyse it because I might lose some of it's positioning in my brain, as I've only just watched it. What Therapy! Absolutely amazing and the critics who measure it in a literal way according to it's violence, don't get it. I keep my eyes shut during a lot of the violence but I see enough to keep abreast of what's happening (a breast with a beating heart ripped out, ha ha). Just remind yourself that it's actors and not real, then withstanding the most shocking stuff, the story works in an abstract way. It's brought home by violence and that's the point of the violence. It's political, realistic, relevant and such a good story and good art. Sympathetic to all the reasons that somebody as fantastic and truly good hearted as Rambo, would judiciously go and dispatch a whole criminal cartel of sickos - singlehanded. It's a particular recipe that's identifiable in all the plots which includes the fact that he's SAS trained, so expert in weapons and it makes you think about what the difference really is between a maverick going after the revolting non-human types that he does, and a state sanctioned army doing it. When you're free of legal restrictions you do an infinitely better job. What a joke that people compare it to Home Alone although in a vague way the plot is the same - it's more like Doctor Who as there's a supernatural hero wiping out tons of baddies, even a whole race or planet singlehandedly. I'm referring to the Dr Who series of the '70s and '80s, mind you. It's not really like anything though.
Spy (2015)
How many people get why this is such a good film?
It seems as though lots of negative reviewers on here don't get why this is such a funny and brilliant film. The director is WAY more intelligent than to just want to make a James Bond spoof. This is a breath of fresh air for people who are sick of films that serve male tastes and interests. The feminist jokes go further than the absolutely brilliant lead played by Melissa McCarthy with concomitant jokes about her being a very unlikely cool and genius successful spy for British Intelligence. There's the whole angle of her male companion who is at a loose end and trying to get in on her mission, who can't help boasting about what he's achieved in the past. Jumping from high buildings using his jacket as a parachute for example -and then she later shows him up and completely dumbfounds him with a line about how he might have two as his gun's protruding from his back pocket. His face, as he's dumbstruck by this idea, is priceless. Frankly, I'm dumbstruck by the brilliance of everyone who made this film. The Timing is everything in Comedy, right? Well, by some sleight of hand they've managed to make an absolute symphony of action and jokes. I don't know how they did it and I'm so impressed that I reckon I'll remember this film forever. It's one of my greats! Absolute appreciation to everyone who made it! Thanks!
Looper (2012)
Plot less film made in plot less way for plot less reasons.
The problem here is the script and overall way of telling the story, because the idea of filming point blank executions of so many individual people close up and personal is too gross to handle. The director has no idea how to make a film watchable. He just causes stress which spoils the good bits, and in fact he makes me wonder if he's a freak who needs an outlet for his sadism. I liked two things about the whole film, and for their visual aesthetic only. Frankly, I felt so disturbed by the idea of this being on general release and that I had seen it that I wished I hadn't gone to see it - and the strange fact that people have given it good reviews on IMDb makes me wonder if EVERYBODY is desensitized to extreme violence and I am the only one who knows that you don't have to kill and maim to make a film exciting and fun.